You’re ready to purchase your first home or your next property. You have gathered all the necessary documents, and have a few listings lined up. You might even already have your eyes set on a specific property.

Yet, before investing a large amount of money into your dream home, you should always make sure that every structure of the building is approved.

As a result, we’d recommend that you get in touch with the building department at your local council as they’ll be able to provide you with a copy of the approved plans on record.

If you’re not familiar with the process, read on, as we’ve listed below a few things you need to keep in mind when it comes to building approvals.

What to Look Out For

As a rule of thumb and as mentioned above, buyers should always carry out a building approval search. Yet, if you're not convinced, here are some situations that can prompt you to apply for one:

• A property that features extensions or additions (including carports and decks).

• A newly renovated home.

• A raised house.

What to Do in Case of Unapproved Structures

If you sign an unconditional contract before discovering that some of the structures on the property don’t have the necessary council approvals, you probably won’t be able to terminate the contract. Therefore, this would leave you with two options: removing the non-complying structures or obtaining the required council approval.

That’s why you should always ensure all structures and parts of your home are approved before proceeding to sign a binding contract.

If you notice unapproved structures, such as alterations or extensions, you’ll need to discuss the problem with your solicitor upon receiving your building search. They should, in turn, raise the issue with the vendor and ask for the alterations or extensions to be approved prior to the purchase.

If you suspect that the house features some unapproved structures but aren’t sure, you can also ask to insert a special condition in the contract, giving you the necessary time to request a building search. The condition should also allow you to terminate the contract if you notice an extension or alteration that doesn’t appear on a building search.

How to Check Building Approvals

You can check whether a building has all the necessary approvals through a building search. There are five different types of building searches including:

• Building records search.

• Building inspections search.

• Certificate of classification.

• Property notices.

• Letter of information.

You’ll find more information on building search fees and how to lodge your application here.

Your dream to own a property or your desire to move onto your next home is at your fingertips. And you’re probably excited to get it all over with so you can finally move in and start this new adventure. Yet, doing your research meticulously and ensuring all structures have been approved before proceeding can go a long way in preventing you from additional financial and emotional stress and should therefore be a priority!